EU Council backs Philippines' GSP+ extension, says DTI chiefA crane stacks shipping containers of Philippine products for export at the international container port in Manila on Sept. 11, 2012. MANILA, Philippines — The European Union and the European Council is supportive of a four-year extension on the eligibility of the Philippines in the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (EU GSP+) trade mechanism, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Wednesday. This was also confirmed by EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron in an ambush interview with reporters. However, the EU has been met with criticisms by human rights groups like the Human Rights Watch, saying that the council has tolerated the human rights abuses under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. In February 2022, the EU Parliament considered removing some trade privileges of the Philippines if the alleged human rights abuses under Duterte were not addressed at that time.

Source: Philippine Star November 23, 2023 03:54 UTC